Magnolia Beach, Tx - Nov 21-26, 2003

One of LaSalle's ships landed on the shore of Matagorda Bay in 1685 in this area.Of his four ships the last was wrecked during a storm in the bay. He established the first French fort in Texas - Ft. St. Louis. The fort was built on a secluded spot on the Garcitas Creek, later taken over by the Spanish, and destroyed by the Indians. He then set out on foot looking for the mouth of the Mississippi River. He returned to the fort and then set out again, this time being killed by his own men near Navasota. The people left at the fort were made prisoners of the Spaniards who finally found the fort.



As early as 1844 ships arrived at Indian Point carrying German settlers. Most of them later made their way inland and settled in New Braunfels and Fredericksburg. Indian Point later became Indianola and by 1850 the port bustled with activity. In 1855 a wharf to deep water was built and business grew. In 1875, a gulf storm swept across Indianola, which was built on a low lying beach. The damage was considerable and 900 perished in the storm, but the town was rebuilt. In 1886, a tidal wave swept over the town and totally destroyed it.The few citizens who survived did not return. The county seat was then moved to Port Lavaca.


Magnolia Beach might be Texas' best kept secret. This free public beach is certainly no secret to the Canadians who pull in each night in their rv's on their journey south.


Old Town Lake is on the opposite side of the narrow island. Part of the Aransas Pass National Wildlife Refuge is located here. What an excellent opportunity to view the birds. There is a boardwalk out to the water. We chose to put kayaks in at that point and weave among the grasses between the open waters. Shrimp were abundant as we paddled along and there was no scarcity of fish chasing them.

Fiddler crabs .. roseatte spoonbills .. great blue herons .. blue crabs .. egrets .. and many which I wish I knew. Later everyone asked if we saw the alligators?????

A parking spot right on the beach allows a vantage point for magnificent sunrises and sunsets; the shrimp boats, tankers, towboats and barges leaving Port Comfort through Matagorda Bay; kayakers and sailboats out for their daily exercise; people fishing and crabbing or searching for bait with their casting nets.